The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-12-22
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
VALUE OF Foop.

ana marked, and tl.ese are the nutritlVe value
that is the value for feeding purposes-and the
manureal value, or the value for fertilizing
purposes. Those kinds of food that contain
considerable quantity of nitrogen, of potash and
OF phosphate will have high manureal value,
aud may also be possessed Of high nutritive
value Wheat bran, cotton-seed and linseed
meal are valuable for feeding purposes, and
they are also applied directly to the soil as fer
tilizers with good results. But if feed is
made up wholly OF starch or oily matter, it
may have high-feeding value and still be al
NEST wholly worthless for making manure.
Because corn contains n large amount of
starch and oil it is not advisable to use it as
food by ITSELF but rather feed TO animals
aiding in the direction of animal nutrition,
still having in the fecal matter voided a large
proportion OF all that is Of value as manure.
Therefore, upon general principles, it is better
TO feed the crops TO animals upon the farm, as
similating the nutritive principles so far as
they may be necessary TO build up or feed the
bodily structure. exercising due care in secur-
ing for manureal use all that is vOided by the
animals, and which contains what is required
for the use of subsequent crops in their hest
development.-Gsrm Telegraph.
THE SUPPLY OF POTATOES.
In some sections of the country, for one cause
and another, the crop Of potatoes was light and
some ventured the prediction that there would
be great scarcity of that important CROP. But
il must not be thought that there will be POI
tato famine in this country, because our for
eign neighbors, ever on the watch TO profit by
our misiortunes, will see to il that we are fair
ly supplied. Even now there will be nearly as
81.
ton as from scarcity in consequence Of light
crop. II is very probable that the price Of po-
tatoes will not very much exceed the present
rate unless il be late in the season, at the time
or after planting.
1t is reported that the crop of potatoes at
Prince Edwards Island is unusually large, and
also full in other portions OF the British Prov
inees, from whence large quantities are being
shipped to Boston Extremely large shipments
are being made into New York city from Ger
many aud Scotland. The imported potatoes
are not so desirable in quality as our native
grown, but at the same time will satisfy any de-
mand that comes from a scarcity OF home pro-
duetion. IL is somewhat questionable whether
farmers having surplus will do better by car
rying through the Winter, unless il be to dis
pose of for seed.
SELECTION OF APPLES.
Until an effort is made to obtain lists of fruit
Of the most desirable varieties, one hardly real
lies how opinions differ At meeting of the
Missouri State Horticultural Society the request
was made that members hand in a list of the
II best varieties of apples, all things consider
cd for cultivation in that State. There were
IL responses, in which were named 43 different
varieties. From the lists handed in selecting
the - varieties having the most votes and they
are: Jonathan IL; Ben Davis, IL; Wine Sap,
10; Maiden Blush, 10; Early Harvest, 8; Will
low Twig, 9; Red June, 8; Rambo. g G.. G..
Pippin, 6; Rome Beauty, 8; Huntsman, 5;
Janeten, 4. There were three varieties hav-
ing three and two votes each, and % once
named.
FEEDING SKIM MILK To cows.
In the case of those who are the owners of a
single COW for family convenience, economy in
feeding is usually practiced, and potato parings
scraps from the table skim milk and slops form
a part of the diet. IL is in such cases very
noticeable that with fair cow to start with
the results are Of the most satisfactory kind.
Good service may almost invariably be looked
for. Excepting as food for hogs. skim milk
has not been experimental with as a food to any
great extent. Prof. Stewart MAKES mention oil
it as a food for young colts and as a muscle
production fixes its value at one-half that OF
oats. He makes the nutritive rate of skim
milk 10 be 10, and estimates its value to be %
cents per 100 pounds for mixing with cut feed
and is quite particular to have il fed in that
way. The american DdiTymaR says that in
Chautauqua County, y. y, one Of the noted
dairy districts, it is a common practice to feed
skim milk TO cows, and that it is considered
more valuable feed in that way than if fed t
pigs or made into skim cheese. This, of course
involves the feeding of it sweet. This may bC
n matter worthy the thought and consideration
of other farmers.
NOTES.
- Begin now to get your Winter quarters
for poultry neat, clean and comfortable, if yoJ
want to do paying business.
- Gas lime appears 20 be very poisonous u
insects; yet so far as tried by Prof. Cook, o
Michigan, does not seem to be in the least in
imical to plant growth. Care should be takeT
10 have it fresh, and it may DO Hsed dry as
powder or mixed with water.
With the help of hen manure spaded int
the ground before planting, and of muriate o
potash and nitrate of soda applied on top after
planting, we have grown Golden Heart celery
this season which would take the premium fol
both size and quality at any fair.-Er.
1t is quite expensive TO put an acre o
ground in onions, owing 10 the high price o
seed, while the labor of raising an acre OF then
is also arduOus and costly; but should an aer,
Of onions be secured. and the crop good, it viii
pay well, as some growers have obtained a
| high AS 600 bushels per acre.
- Select the firmest and best heads of cab
bage If you wish TO save your own seed. Bury
| the heads or keep them in a place of even TEN
| perature. In the Spring cut off the stalk 4
within two inches OF the head, cut slit in thu
| head and put the head in the ground with thu
| top barely exposed, and it will then shoot al
/ 10 seed.
- Perhaps the best way of protecting yOuni
fruit trees from being gnawed by rabbits in tn
| Winter is to get felting or tarred paper-sucl
as is used in buildings on walls or roofs ant
cut it in suitable sizes, and, after wrapping
round the body of the Tree from the bottom nj
| high enough TO be out of reach of the rabbits
/ 10 tie the same AT the bottom and top.
| Professor StOrer says ration Of 80 pound
of pumpkin per COW daily will increase tn
flow and improve the quality of milk. Nor
than this quantity shoald not be given. Pump
kins are very cheap food, rs a couple of ton
eau be grown to the acre with the corn crop
The seeds of the pumpkin ought to be removes
| before feeding.
The change from an outdoor run TO tn
limit of hennery IS not at all agreeable to tn
nature of fowls. There they live and grow lk
house plants-pale, delicate and tender. Tn
longer they are kept hived together the NOR
sickly they will be and the less number tn
breeder will have to show or sell in presenta
BILE condition to his customer.
| Professor St0ckbridge once tried to raise 20
bushels OF corn 10 the acre. He said aiterward
81 have learned that can apply manure enoug
10 grow 200 bushels Of corn on single acre an
can put the hills thick enough, but have ais
learned that not even the Creator himself ca
give sunshine and leaf room enough for such
crop with any variety Of corn known to me-"
| A pig that while eating takes its head on
OF the trough and acts as If the slop had ru
- Al. IL. rI.s